FRS 001RR —
Sec. 001 —
(1 unit) — CRN 73968— W 9:00-9:50am — 5 Wellman
Cancer Biology Molecular-targeted Therapies
Instructor: Paul Gumerlock, Department of Hematology & Oncology,
School of Medicine
Description: This course will address the general biology of
cancer and some of the strategies used for therapy of this disease. There will
be a special emphasis on the molecular pathways involved in cancer
formation and
progression, differences in types of cancer, and the use of
molecularly-targeted
therapies aimed at cancer abnormalities. Information will be presented through
informal lectures, reading materials, and discussions. The goals of
this seminar
are for students to understand the general biology of cancer, to
delve more deeply
into a specific cancer topic, and to cogently present that topic in
written form.
Format: The seminar class will meet weekly for one hour. There
will be informal lectures with student discussion participation. There will be
no formal text, but some additional scientific reading will be
required for successful
completion of a short review paper. Grading: Students
will receive a letter grade based on class participation (1/2), and a short 4-5
page paper on a cancer topic chosen in consultation with the
instructor (1/2).
About the Instructor: Dr. Paul Gumerlock is an
Adjunct Professor
and Associate Chief of Laboratory and Translational Research in the Division of
Hematology/Oncology at the UC Davis Cancer Center. He received bachelor’s
degrees in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego and
in Biology
from California State University, Sacramento. He has ongoing projects
that focus
on the role of the p53 pathway in the radiation response of prostate
cancer, the
use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein to enhance radiation responses
in prostate cancer, and the detection of shed tumor DNA in prostate
cancer patient
plasma. In addition, he has a fully developed research program in
molecular pharmacology
and its translation into the clinic. These studies investigate the
molecular mechanisms
of action of novel anticancer agents, particularly those targeted to cell cycle
molecules, signal pathways, and anti-microtubules. Dr. Gumerlock
serves in leadership
positions in the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) national clinical
trials cooperative
group as Co-Chair of both the Genitourinary and Lung Correlative
Sciences Subcommittees
and as the Lung Committee Vice-Chair of Basic Science, with the roles
of designing
and conducting molecular correlative studies of tumor tissues from
patients enrolled
in the clinical trials. Performing similar roles, he is Director of Molecular
Biology for the NCI-funded phase I and phase II grants to the California Cancer
Consortium. He is a standing Member of the NCI Clinical
Investigations Lung Correlative
Sciences Review Committee.